Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-12-16

st in the enterprise had been aroused at home
md abroad by profuso advertising that the
whole accommodation Of the building had
been secured by travellers Of all nations for
The opening night Henry only obtained one
Of the small rooms on the upper floor by
lucLy accident, the absence Of the gentleman
who had written to engage it, He was quite
satisfied, and was on his way 10 led when
another accident altered his prospects for the
night and moved him into another and
better room.
Ascending on his way to the higher regions
N far as the first floor OF the hotel, Henry'S |
attention was attracted by an angry voice |
protesting, in strong New England accent !
against one of the greatest hardships that can |
he inflicted on q citizen Of the United States
the hardship OF sending him to bed without |
gas in his room.
Tho Americans are not only the most hos
pitablo people to be found on the face of the |
earth-they are tunder certain conditions the
most patient and good tempered people "a
well. But they are human; and the limit OF
American endurance is found in the obsolete
institution of bedroom candle. The Aneri-
can traveller, in the present case, declined TO
bs,;cyc that his bedroom was in q completely
finished state without gas burner. The
manager pointed to the fine antique decora-
tions-renewed and regilt-on the walls and
selling, and explained that the emGnations Of
burning gas light would certainly spoil them
IN the course of few months. To this the
traveller replied that it was possible, but that
he did not understand decorations A bed
room with gas in it was what lie was used 10,
was what he wanted and was what he was
determined to have The compliant manager
volunteered to ask some other gentleman,
housed on the inferior upper story-which
was lit throughout with gas-to change
rooms. Hearing this, and being quite willing
to exchange small bed chamber for largo
one, Henry volunteered to be the other gem
tleman. The excellent American shook
hands with him on the spot "You are
cultured person, sir, !" he said, "and you will
no doubt understand the decorations
Henry looked at the number of the room
on the door as he opened it, The number was
Fourteen.
Tired and sleepy, he naturally anticipated
q good nights rest In tho thoroughly
healthy state of his nervous system, he slept
as well in bed abroad as in n bed at homo.
Without tho slightest assignable reason, how
ever, his Just expectations were disappointed.
The luxurious bed, the well ventilated room,
the delicious tranquility of Venice by night,
oil were in favor of his sleeping well. He
never slept at all. An Undesirable sense Of
depression und discomfort kept him waking
through darkness and daylight alike. He
went down to the coffee room as soon as tho
hotel was astir, and ordered some breakfast.
Another unaccountable change in himself
appeared with the appearance of the meal.
He was absolutely without appetite. An ex-
cellent omelet and outlets cooked to perfec-
ton he sent away untasted-he, whose appe-
tite never failed him, whose digestion was
still equal TO any demands on It'll
The day was bright and fine. He sent for
A gondola, and was rowed TO the Lido.
Out on the airy lagoon he felt like new
man. He had not left the hotel ten minutes
before he was fast asleep in the gondola. Wax
ing ON reaching the landing place, he crossed
the Lido and enjoyed a mornings swim in
the Adriatic. There was only poor res
taurant on the island in those days, but his
appetite was now ready for anything; he cat
whatever was offered to him, like famished
man.
He could hardly believe, when he reflected
on it, that he had sent away untasted his ex-
eellent breakfast at the hotel.
Returning to Venice, he spent the rest Of
the day in the picture galleries and the
churches. Toward 8 O'Clock his gondola
took him back, with another fine appetite, to
meet some travelling acquaintance with
whom he had engaged to dine at the table
d'hoto.
The dinner was deservedly rewarded with
the highest approval by every guest in the
hotel but one. To Henry's establishment
the appetite with which he had entered the
house mysteriously and completely left him
when he vat down to table. He could drink
some wire, but he could literally eat moth
ing. "PThat in the world is the matter with
your bis travelling acquaintance asked.
He could honestly answer, 81 know no more
than you do"
When night came he gave his comfortable
and beautiful bedroom another trial. The
result of the second experiment was repeti-
ton Of the result Of the first. Again he felt
the all pervading sense Of depression and
discomfort. Again he passed asleepless night.
And once more when be tried to eat his
breakfast his appetite completely failed him.
This personal experience of the new hotel
was too extraordinary 10 be passed over in
silence. Henry mentioned it to his friends
in the public room, in the hearing OF the
manager. The manager, naturally Jealous
in defense OF the hotel, was a little hurt at
the implied reelection cast on Number Four
teen. Ho invited the travellers present to
Judge for themselves whether Mr.. Westwick's
bedroom was to blame for Mr.. Westwick S
sleepless night; and he especially appealed TO
gray headed gentleman, n guest at tho
breakfast table Of an English traveller, to
take tho lead in the investigation. "This is
Doctor Bruno, cur first physician in Venice,
he explained. II appeal to him to say il
there are any unhealthy influences in Mr..
Westwick's roomn
INTRODUCED to Number Fourteen, tho doctor
looked round him with a certain appearance
OF interest which was noticed by every one
present. sThe last time was in this room,
be said, "was on a melancholy occasion. II
was before the palace was changed into al
hotel. l was in professional attendance on
an English nobleman who died here" One
OF the persons present inquired the namo OF
the robleman. DIR. Bruno answered-with-
out the slightest suspicion that he was speak
ing before brother Of the dead man-"Lord
Montbarry."
Henry quietly left the room, without say
ing word to anybody.
lie was not, in any sense Of tho term, su.
perstitious man. But he felt, nevertheless,
an insurmountablo reluctance to remaining
in the hotel. lie decided on leaving Venice
| To ask for another room would be, as he could
| plainly see, an offense in the eyes Of the man
ager. To remove to another hotel would lie
TO openly abandon an establishment in the
success Of which he had pecuniary interest.
Leaving note for Arthur Barville, on his
arrival in Venice, in which he mentioned
that he had gone to look at the Italian lakes,
and that line addressed to his hotel at Milan
would bring him back again, he took the af-
ternoon train to Padua-and dined with his
usual appetite, and slept as well as ever that
night.
The next day gentleman and his wife, re-
turning to England, by way Of Venice, ar
rived at the hotel and occupied Number
| Fourteen
Still mindful OF the slur that had been cast
on one Of his best bed chambers, the manager
took occasion to ask the travellers the next
morning how they liked their room. They
left him TO judge for himself how well they
were satisfied, by remaining a day longer in
Venice than thoy had originally planned to do,
solely for the purpose Of enjoying the excel.
lent accommodation offered 70 them by the
new hotel. ave have met with nothing like it